Decisions, Decisions!

The date is the weekend of February 9, 2019. That is when it looks like everyone involved will be able to make it for our traditional "Kids Weekend at Nana's"! Now, let the real planning begin.

I think I have mentioned before that I have been thinking about the crafts we might make this year. I always try to come up with something new but also something useful. I have always loved handprint art but now that my oldest grandson is almost 6', it's hard to find things that will fit his handprint. And so, I came across this fingerprint plate. Since the kids also like to bake up a bunch of cookies, I thought they could package them wrapped up on the plates as their family gifts this year. I got round plates at the $ Tree so our design pattern will be a bit different and probably won't have the kids' names as there will be many more "hearts" needed to fill our design area. In any case, here is my jumping off point.

Presley has already begun asking me about things. She saw my soap download and since she loved making the heart shaped soaps we made a few years back, she asked if we could do the conversation hearts this year. I just happened upon the mold at 50% off at Michaels the other day so I grabbed it and thought it might also be fun to make everyone a bag of these hearts as an extra gift.

Since I have to make another trip to the $ Tree for something else, I thought I might also pick up some wine glasses and let the kids each make one of these for the ladies of the family. We've done this process on mugs and tee shirts so it should be pretty easy for them. The hardest part is always waiting for one color paint to dry before moving on to another.

Meal planning is always the most challenging. Since I want to stay in the theme but we will probably be a bit short on time due to a baseball game (yes, we have another team sport in the family), I think I will fall back on old favorites-heart shaped sandwiches for lunch and heart shaped pizza, salad and broccoli for dinner.

Dessert will be homemade cookies and ice-cream. We always make the pink chocolate chip cookies and the chocolate shortbreads but I am contemplating a change or two this year. I might ask the kids which they would prefer-I'll let you know. So many choices.

I'm really enamored by these kiss cookies so I think they are a "for sure"!

I'm going easy again with the breakfast the next morning-pancakes, bacon and fruit should fill the bill!

We have always played a few Minute-to-Win-It games and last year added Valentine HeadBandz and "Hearts to Hearts" (a variation of Apples to Apples). This year I found even more fun Minute-to-Win-Its. I think I have more than enough to keep everyone busy and happy.

Now, if I could just get through all of this "preparation"! I know it looks like a mess but I really do know what and where everything is! Believe it or not, this is just the beginning of my gathering! And, I can't wait for the date to come!!

In the mean time, I am keeping watch over the gardens. Even though we have had some really cool nights, nothing has been touched yet. The camellias are blooming and beautiful as are the Gerbera daisies, tea olives, pentas and other flowering bushes. The hydrangeas have tons of leaf buds and the climbing rose and bougainvilleas are doing well. Fingers crossed this is the worst we get.

Looks like I have a busy week to come but I will be back soon. I actually found a Valentine craft I think I might like to try. I don't have all of the supplies so it will just depend on how much time I have to get out and about and looking-wish I had thought of it a day earlier when I was out and about..Stay tuned.

Such a Fun Tradition

One of our traditions that we really look forward to every year is our annual trip to Oak Haven Strawberry Farm in Sorrento.

This year we got there at the start of the season and the berries were huge and plentiful!

This farm is so well maintained. The rows are well defined and the walking areas are clear and flat. And since the plants are in raised beds and under the black plastic, seeing and picking the berries is so easy.

Sometimes the boys join us but sometimes they are tied up with sports...as was the case this weekend. The only never changing variable is that Presley's best friend must be able to join us! These girls love tradition as much as I do.

After the farm, we always head in to Eustis for lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant. We usually sit outside but this weekend it was just a tad too chilly. Never-the-less, the girls wouldn't let us leave without a few crazy shots.

It is a nice walk through town to the water front. The girls got double scoop ice cream cones-yep, too cold to sit outside but never too cold for ice cream-and then they played at one of the parks for a long time while my daughter and I got to sit and catch up.

The berries were so tempting that I now have this on my counter...

...which, of course, prompted this-a strawberry pound cake. It was the only recipe I could find that I could make with things I already had in my frig and pantry. It was a cold, rainy day and I wasn't about to head out anywhere!

I will admit it is not the best cake I have ever eaten but, in its defense, the recipe did call for buttermilk and, since that is not something that is always in my frig, I used some old "instant buttermilk powder" that I had in the pantry. Since it had kind of clumped into one big mound and I had to scrap off shavings to even use it, the end result may have been tainted just a bit. Lol At least it put a small dent in the amount of fresh berries I have. I would share with my only daughter that lives here in town but she is the one I went with and she, too, has a boat load of berries-if only they hadn't looked so tempting! Stay tuned.

Next Stop

So here we are in the family room. I wish I had wonderful, new things to show you but as I think I have posted several times before, there seems to be a lack of Valentine decor that I am drawn to. It is always the holiday that I have the hardest time choosing new craft and decor ideas. I don't know, maybe it's once again because I have been around forever and it just seems like I have done it all. There are no new, brilliant ideas. Or, maybe it's just that I am not the biggest fan of "red".

In any case, here's what I did in the family room this year...and, again, I'm trying to keep it simple.

I'm still really enjoying this pillow given to me a few Christmases ago by my oldest grand daughter. As I tell her, it is the gift that keeps on giving-and, it will probably remain a heart until the next time the kiddos come over and it turns back into a pillow with one of their initials or masterpieces.

I know this picture is grainy, but it is what I see from my "spot" every evening. I do love candles and lights. Lol

And while I'm looking back on my week I found this picture of the youngest munchkin. She was with me for a few days and we played lots of games...and yes, it did take a glass of wine that large to get me to play Monopoly-not my favorite. I wonder if it is just coincidence that her mom is the one who gave me that glass-maybe she knew I would need some "gentle" persuasion! Stay tuned.

When Your "Heart's" Just Not Into It!

Figured I should be real! Today was an epic fail and I really do believe that my heart was just not into it!!!

While waiting for a call from a repairman that I did not want to miss, I figured I would find something to do that would keep me busy but also not far from whichever phone they chose to call. Yes, I know, I should just tell them what number to call. You would think that would be a no-brainer. BUT, I did just that a month ago with these same people and had my cell phone with me at ALL times that day-no matter where I went. Apparently, as I stepped outside (with the phone they were supposed to be calling) to fill the bird feeders, they called on the land line and I missed the call. And, it was NOT just a simple call back. But, I digress.

So, keeping all of that in mind, today seemed the perfect day to make my Valentine cards. I knew I had TONS of Valentine paper so I didn't purchase anything new while I was at HL the other day. I pulled up my Valentine Pinterest board and looked at all of the card ideas I had there. I must say, I really didn't have any I loved but I found the one I liked the most and started out.

It was then that I realized that the design I was using needed my papers to all be card stock designs and the ones that I had that I liked (meaning...the traditional colors of red, white and black that I am drawn to...probably because of the sharp contrasts) were just scrapbook paper and would not work. I had a fair share of Valentine card stock but none was really in the palette that I wanted.

I forged ahead and cut out the hearts for at least the sample and tried placing them on a white background. Just as I expected, there was not enough contrast for me and the hearts just looked wimpy.

I went and got some of my distressing inks and tried a color called "frayed burlap" because one of the papers I was using had a brown base. Nope, not doing it. Then, I tried my favorite black edges but that looked horrible with the brown. I thought maybe if I stamped a sentiment in red that that might help. Not only didn't it help but I couldn't even decide where to place it.

When all was said and done, I had to admit that I didn't even like the beginning idea...just not doing it for me. And so, I declared the effort an epic fail. I thought I would make a HL run tomorrow and see what I could find when I came upon some extra cards I have made in years past-that I actually liked-and so, they are the ones that will be going out this year. I hope the recipients have short memories-it's the thought that counts, right?

Yikes! It's going to take me awhile to put away all of this mess. At least it will keep me close to the phones. Lol Stay tuned.

I LOVE Tulip Time

I LOVE this time of year-mostly because it when all of the beautiful tulips begin to appear. I saw these beauties yesterday and just had to have them. I moved the previous bouquet to my bedroom so I can see these lovelies in two different places of my home now. I love that this week's bunch is the dark pink edged in white...so pretty!

We had a little taste of winter last night...but not as much as predicted. Today it is simply gorgeous outside-a little chilly but bright, beautiful, blue skies and lots and lots of sun. I'm about to head out to the yard and cut some flowers-yes, things are still blooming like crazy-but thought I might give you a peek at a bit more of the Valentines decor before I go.

Let's head in into the dining room.

I couldn't help myself-I had to put out my new urn given to me by daughter #1 for Christmas this year even though it's not red or totally white. Just when I think no one can find one I don't have...I love the neutral color and the different size and shape of this piece. I think it will probably be out all year long.

 I smiled as I put up the wooden heart collage that the kids made last year on Nana weekend. Thankfully, my brother and sister-in-law were here to help as this was a many stepped project and each of the kids needed one of us along side to "get er done". And, although I cut all of the wood the same size and mixed all of the paints exactly the same, it was interesting how each one was just a bit unique! The kids did a great job and the family loved their gifts.

So that's the dining room and the very simply done sun room. Thanks for visiting. There's still a bit more so stay tuned.